Method or process of absorbing moisture from wet surfaces of articles of jewelry, &amp;c.



METHOD 0R PROCESS OF ABSORBING MOISTURE FROM WET SURFACES APPLICATIONFILED 1 113.3, 1911.

OF ARTICLES OF JEWELRY, &c.

1,012,644. Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

INvENToR.

ArihurWHuichins.

LANOGRAPH CO-,WASHINGTDN. n. c.

COLUMBIA P UNIT STATES PATENT ormoE.

ARTHUR W. HUTCHINS, OF CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND.

METHOD OR PROCESS OF ABSORBING- MOISTURE FROM WET SURFACES 0F ARTICLESOF JEWELRY, 8w.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. Huron- INS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cranston, in the county of Providence and State ofRhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMethods or Processes of Absorbing 'Moisture from Wet Surfaces ofArticles of J ewelry, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the art or methods of dryingor absorbing fluids or moisture from articles having impervioussurfaces; that is to say, articles of jewelry, articles made of 'basemetals, glass, porcelain, &c.

In the production of various articles of the character referred to, thesame, after completion, are usually temporarily subjected to water orchemical fluid baths of different kinds, and hot or cold, as the casemay be, for the purpose of cleansing them. The articles, upon beingremoved from the bath, are, while still wet, usually embedded in aninert mass of absorbent substance, .as sawdust, contained in a tank andpermitted to remain therein until the sawdust has taken up or absorbedthe moisture. Sometimes the absorbent material is kept artificiallyheated, so as to facilitate the drying process. It may be stated thatthe nonheated sawdust at times becomes practically saturated with themoisture absorbed from the thus embedded articles: In such event themoisture-laden sawdust must be re: moved and the tank recharged with drysawdust; the operation being repeated until the articles are thoroughlyor properly dried.

I have discovered a process whereby articles of the kind or characterreferred to can, when removed from the bath, be quickly and completelydried in an inexpensive and more efficient manner, by subjecting the wetor moist surfaces to a suitably directed, continuous stream of drymoisture-absorbing substance or material, as sawdust, flowing from acontrolled source of supply containing the dry absorptive material. Thework or article thus acted upon is suitably positioned with relation tothe outflowing sawdust, so that the particles of the latter impin e andact upon the exposed surface and at t e same time, during its passageacross the surface, take up or absorb an amount Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed February 3, 1911.

Patented Dec. 26, 1911. Serial No. 606,291.

of moisture therefrom. Thus it will be apparent that a continuous movingstream or current of dry absorbent material or substance is presented tothe surface acted upon, with the result that the moving volume of drysawdust in a loose state not only absorbs the liquid or moisture fromthe surface of the article acted upon, but it also ,imparts to thesurface a clean or untarnished appearance, all as more fully hereinafterset forth and claimed.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings is represented, in verticalcentral section, a simple apparatus illustrating a manner of carryingout my improved method of completely taking up, moisture from the wetsurfaces of articles disposed with relation and being subjected to acontinuous flow of dry absorptive material or substance, as sawdust.

In the drawings a designates a base having a work-supporting plate 6jointed or pivoted thereto and arranged to suitably hold a piece of workor article, as w, thereon. The drawing further shows means for varyingthe angular position of the plate Z with respect of the base a. A tubeor container c is mounted and disposed so that its outlet or nozzle 0 iscapable of discharging its contents directly onto the surface of thework or article to to be acted upon. The upper portion of the containermay be enlarged to serve as a hopper or reservoir 0 In order to regulateor control the outflow of material from the container, and also tocompletely shut it ofl, a suitably mounted, manually movable gate d maybe employed.

The following describes the manner of operation: The absorptive materialm is supplied in a dry state to the container 0 in any suitable mannerand is arranged to flow from the discharge-outlet c in a controlled,continuous stream or current directly onto the adjacent exposed moist orwet surface of an article or piece of work, as w, suitably held orsupported therebeneath. The flow of the particles of material m in aloosely combined state operates, in moving across the said moistsurface, to automatically take up or absorb the moisture. The outflow ofthe dry absorbent material is continued uninterruptedly until the actedupon surface of the work becomes completely dry. While this is takingplace,

the resulting waste or spent material m then carrying the moisture whichit had absorbed or taken up in its forward movement, passes off to beredried or reused, if desired. Thus it is clear that the column ofcontinuously moving dry material 4% from the outlet 0 acts upon the wetor moist surface of the work in a decreasing ratio; that is to say, thefirst portion of the dry absorbent to engage the said surface takes up agreater quantity of the moisture from it while the immediatelysucceeding, but connected portions absorb less and less, until thesurface becomes perfectly dry, at which instant the work may be removedor the supply of dry absorbent temporarily cut off.

I would add that in my improved method of drying, which involves the useof dry moisture-absorptive material, in a more or less comminuted state,the same is or may be disposed so as to flow by gravity action upon thesurface of the work to be treated, the latter at the same time beingheld or po sitioned at an angle, the degree of which angle exceeds theangle of repose of the absorbent material, thus causing the latter tomove downward by gravity while it is taking up the moisture, andthereby, too, presenting a continuous automatic advance movement ofabsorptive material to and from the surface of the work being actedupon.

The absorptive substance employed must obviously be of a relatively softfibrous or spongy character, so as not to abrade or injure the surfaceof the work while moving on it. Non-resinous sawdust, as well asfinelycut threads of linen, cotton, &c., are well adapted to be used. Inany case, how ever, the material should be thoroughly dry before it isemployed in connection with my improved process.

The surface of the work acted upon as herein described is rendered muchcleaner and brighter thereby than is possible under the usual practice,in which the work, when removed from the bath, is simply embedded in aninert mass of sawdust for taking up the moisture.

I claim as my invention The improved method herein described ofabsorbing and carrying ofi moisture from the wet surface of an article;which consists in suitably supporting or holding the article to be actedupon during the drying process, then directing a stream of dryabsorptive substance, as sawdust, directly upon said Wet surface from acontrolled source ofsupply, and continuing the said movement of theabsorbent uninterruptedly until it has taken up and removed all themoisture from the surface thus acted upon.

In testimony whereof I have afliXed my signature in presence oftwowitnesses.

. ARTHUR WV. HUTCHINS.

WVitnesses:

CALVIN H. BROWN, GEO. I-I. REMINGTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

